HILLSDALE — With the cost of college steadily increasing, students are looking for any way possible to help pay for college or earn credits for free.

iChallengeU Regional Business Fellowship Director Bob Tebo is looking to help students with those ambitions by offering seats in a program where they can earn money for college and credits for participation.

"The biggest difference I've noticed from successful people and unsuccessful people is, successful people take action," Tebo said. "Unsuccessful people think about doing something."

Tebo is looking for at least eight and up to 16 Hillsdale County high school sophomores, juniors or seniors who are hoping to participate in iChallengeU, a two-week educational program where students work with a local business to solve a real-world problem. Students must have a 2.5 grade point average and must submit an application for the program.

Once the application is received, Tebo will schedule an interview with the student in their home district. Applications can be sent in via email or regular mail. Tebo said he responds to all applications within 24 hours and expects applicants to respond to him in a similar fashion.

"If you're thinking about doing it, do it now," Tebo said.

Each team will meet at a site in the county to work with a local business on solving an issue currently facing the business. Hillsdale County will have at least one team, possibly two. Teams from Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties will then present their proposed solutions to the problem at a gathering this summer.

The members of the team that offers the best solution will be eligible for $1,000 scholarships.

The teams in each county will be working on issues directly tied to their business partners, so each team will have a different issue to solve.

All participants will earn college credit for the program, which can be transferred to the majority of schools in the state. Eastern Michigan University, Baker College and Spring Arbor University have already committed to being part of the program.

Anyone interested in applying for a spot can contact Tebo via email at